Meetong notes for February 16, 2015

Posted by John Scepanski525.40pc on February 20, 2015

DeForest Area Progressives

Meeting notes for February 16, 2015

Next meeting: Monday, February 23, 2015, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Ginny’s, 3922 Partridge Road, Windsor Hills neighborhood. Agenda to follow will include reports on activities and planning for future activities.

There were seven people at the February 16th meeting. We began during pre-meeting time with some discussion on genetically modified foods (GMO’s), antibiotics, viruses and immunizations, etc.

We received a handout from our counterpart progressive organization in Sun Prairie, SPARC. It encouraged everyone to express our opinions about the pending state biennial budget. The handout contained a list of objectionable items in the proposed budget as they relate to education issues, such as “It removes the cap on the unaccountable voucher program, allowing for unlimited enrollments statewide” and “It cuts almost $90 million in funding for students with special needs.” There were ten items in all with other commentary. (As an aside, several DAP members, including Liz, Karen, and Marcia, attended the listening session at the DeForest Library on the evening of Feb. 19th. About fifty people were in attendance to give their opinions to Representatives Ripp, Jagler, and Olson. Reports are that most commentary was progressive in nature and the reps got an earful.)

Discussion was had on further planning for our April 11th event, “What’s in YOUR Water?” at the Windsor Neighborhood Center. Bill handed out a tentative schedule. He has been talking to other groups such as the Scouts and Rotary. The current pre-registration on our web page is difficult and needs some refinement/simplification. Karen will look into it. JohnSki has submitted the grant application to the village of DeForest.

John St. reported on the Wisconsin Grassroots Network Festival scheduled for March 28th. You can buy tickets and sign up on the WGN website, WisconsinGrassroots.net.

We discussed other meeting places for regular DAP Monday evening meetings. Marcia and Karen met with the management at Macchiato’s, where there might be a possibility of future meetings.

The rest of the evening was devoted to a slide presentation by Franco Milani, board member of the Friends of the Yahara River Headwaters (FoYRH). The Friends are co-sponsoring and participating in “What’s in YOUR Water?” Franco himself has an extensive background as a chemist employed in and interested in climate related subject matter. Thank you, Franco, for a most interesting presentation. Yes, Virginia, climate change is real and is happening right now. Expect many more extreme weather events in the near future. Franco also elaborated on water quality and capacity in Wisconsin. You can learn much more by attending “What’s in YOUR Water?” on April 11th.